How to add casters to table leg?

[preethik]

Hello,

I'm trying to maximise space in a small kitchen/dining area of my unit. Unfortunately the way they've designed the area means I don't have enough bench space but do have a small dining area off the kitchen.

I wanted to convert my lightweight dining table into a portable one to function as a kitchen island/extra bench space. The only issue is the bottom of the leg is round and I don't think I can remove the gold bit.

My workaround was to add a square timber bit and then add casters to the timber. I'll come in store to ensure measurements are correct etc, but just wondering if that would work? The legs screw off so I was going to bring that into store as well. Just thought I'd ask here in the mean time to see if any other ideas came up 😊 thanks in advance. 

 

[EricL]

Hello @preethik 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about adding casters to your table.

At the moment the only way I can imagine it happening is to place your table on top of a flat piece of board and anchoring it to that board. The castors can then be attached to the bottom of the flat board. The reason for this is that the legs of the table are not fully supported and they are not built or designed to have castors underneath them.  

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1, @Nailbag and @JoeAzza for their recommendations.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[Dave-1]

Good Afternoon @preethik 

I think it can be done tho the added stresses on all the table legs will shorten the life of the tabletop. Its designed to have fixed legs sitting in place that dont move, whith wheeled legs you have that whole splaying action wanting to happen a lot easier. 

Trying to figure out a way to attach a caster and maintain some strength at the foot of the leg. I can see the dimple in the gold metal that holds the foot in place at the end of the leg. You could modify that part of the metal leg by chopping it off and using the gold barrel to hold the caster with an expanding screw/rubber but getting all four legs exactly the same height will be problematic.... 

Screwing a caster directly to the end of the timber with no metal ring reinforcing the timber will lead towards the smaller round leg splitting.

I would actually think it would be easier to replace the legs with new ones, useing the old attachment points to marry up the new legs. And go for square legs so you can screw Move It 40mm White Plastic Heavy Duty Swivel Castor to the end of it.

Dave

[preethik]

Thank you both! I did consider just replacing the legs but it's an older cheap table and I couldn't find replacement legs at a quick glance. 

I'll keep looking, it's not a treasured piece of furniture but I wanted to repurpose it if possible. 

[JoeAzza]

Hi @preethik 

I found these on Temu, quick fix.also on eBay.

[Nailbag]

HI @preethik 

Is the only reason you want casters on the legs so you can more the table about without lifting? Because the only way you can achieve this is to change the legs so there is a larger footprint on the bottom to allow very small furniture casters to be fitted.

Nailbag

[preethik]

Yes, I need more kitchen benchtop space but don't need a dining table so was going to try and use it as a kitchen island type thing. Was trying to avoid adding more furniture and see if I could just repurpose what I had. 

Sounds like it's going to be too complicated though which is okay! It wasn't an expensive table and I've had it for 3 years already so I'll just move it outside and use it to keep pots to grow herbs or similar. 

[AlanM52]

Hi @preethik,

Maybe something like this.

That looks like a kid's drawing 😳

That is 40 x 40mm so let's look for some square pine timber.

That looks good, cut some 40mm blocks.

Turning our attention to one of the legs.

Table upside down on floor.

Remove the swivel foot with metal ferrule.

Try different ways, hammer and screwdriver to loosen & pry off.

Multigrips over leg and against the foot and tap off with hammer.

May need a Dremel tool or something similar and cheaper.

Position the block behind the leg and pencil the angled outline.

Drill/boar a hole to suit the leg, if it ends up oversize use 5 Minute Epoxy.

You will likely need this.

https://www.bunnings.com.au/craftright-8-piece-spade-bit-set_p0189426

and this.

https://www.temu.com/ul/kuiper/un9.html?subj=goods-un&_bg_fs=1&_p_jump_id=894&_x_vst_scene=adg&goods...

Sorry... I can't shorten that URL.

Hope it works out for you.
Cheers